They are also known as "the roller" due to their habit of rolling into a ball for protection. They are the only known mammal to possess scales. Rumour has it that this armor of scales can deflect a bullet from a .303 rifle fired from 100m.

Unfortunatley the scales are highly sought after and thought to be one of the most powerful mutis. A scale can be sold for as much as R100. In congo they are slaughtered and smoked as a delicacy. Ridiculous if you ask me.

They are listed as vulnerable in the new Red Data book publication on mammals in SA (2003, think). The estimate for Kruger park, based on a sabie sands study, is in region of 1, 000 - which is so low that it is no wonder people dont see them that often ! A leopard of same numbers in park is easier to see, though it is larger.

To see a live pangolin, befriend Jonathan Swart, the ecological manager of the Sabi Sands Game Reserve. He has completed a doctoral thesis on these creatures.
Not in the KNP though, but a friend of mine came across a pangolin 2 nights ago on the outskirts of nelspruit at about 11pm, happily walking across the road.

I saw a pangolin about 10 years ago in KNP - a quick sighting in a dry river bed near Letaba.

But more interesting, when I was in KNP 2005 I got chatting to some tourists, and they showed me their camcorder recording of a pangolin they'd seen the day before on the Satara-Orpen road late afternoon - this 'anteater' as they referred to it was digging for food right near the road for more than 15 mins.
The footage was incredible, truly a once-in-a-lifetime sighting!!!

Does anyone happen to know what the name manis means? (manis being the genus of the pangolin) Or even what language the name comes from? My class is making a field guide, and we need the etymology of the pangolin's scientific name.

Ma"nis\, n. [NL., fr. L. manes the ghosts or shades of the dead. So called from its dismal appearance, and because it seeks for its food by night.] (Zo["o]l.) A genus of edentates, covered with large, hard, triangular scales, with sharp edges that overlap each other like tiles on a roof. They inhabit the warmest parts of Asia and Africa, and feed on ants.

The smaller the monkey the more it looks like it would kill you at the first given opportunity

Pangolin are hunted and eaten in many parts of Africa and it is one of the more popular types of bush meat. Pangolins are also in great demand in China because their meat is considered a delicacy and some Chinese believe pangolin scales reduce swelling, promote blood circulation and help breast-feeding women produce milk. This, coupled with deforestation, has led to a large decrease in the numbers of Giant Pangolins.

Pangolin populations have suffered from illegal trafficking. In May 2007, for example, Guardian Unlimited reported that 31 pangolins were found aboard an abandoned vessel off the coast of China. The boat contained some 5,000 endangered animals.

The Guardian recently provided a description of the killing and eating of pangolins: "A Guangdong chef interviewed last year in the Beijing Science and Technology Daily described how to cook a pangolin: 'We keep them alive in cages until the customer makes an order. Then we hammer them unconscious, cut their throats and drain the blood. It is a slow death. We then boil them to remove the scales. We cut the meat into small pieces and use it to make a number of dishes, including braised meat and soup. Usually the customers take the blood home with them afterwards.'" [8]

On November 10, 2007, Thai customs officers announced that they had rescued over 100 pangolins as the animals were being smuggled out of the country, en route to China, where they were to be sold for cooking. [9]

On my first Morning Walk June 2000 from Pretoriuskop we saw one adult. It curled up and we got right up to it. It is a sight I will never forget I do feel very lucky, to have seen at least one in my life in the wild

Does anyone know how the Afrikaans name for pangolin; ietermagog originated? I read that the English name is from the Malay peng-goling. This is just for interest sake as this unique name has always facinated me.

There is nothing like looking, if u want to find sumthing. You certainly usually find sumthing, if u look, but it is not always quite the sumthing you were after. - JRR Tolkien.

The name "ietermagog" probably stems from the Tswana language: machocho ("ant") or magogwe ("badger"). The form of the word "ietermagog", as well as the habitat and role of the animal in the beliefs/superstitions of the indigenous South African tribes, supports the origin of the word.

We were in Punda last month when someone spotted a Pangolin as well - was green with envy. The only time we were blessed to see one in ALL our visits, was in August 1998, was just outside Satara, as we turned out of the gate on the opposite side of the road.